Half an hour later.

Purple Scale Demon King clutched his belly and burped, saying, “I’m full.”

Before him, the plates stacked on the table reached a meter high, and empty wine jars were scattered all over the floor.

He truly wasn’t being polite at all!

Beads of sweat appeared on Tang Li’s forehead, though he also breathed a sigh of relief.

“Sect Leader Jun.”

He smiled and said, “This young master has always liked making friends with outstanding heroes from across the land, so I also hope we can keep in frequent contact and visit each other often.”

Treating him to a meal was secondary—the real purpose was to establish connections.

Even if it wouldn’t provide immediate benefits, who knows when it might be useful in the future.

Jun Changxiao said, “Just based on this seat’s relationship with the Tang Family’s Second Young Master, naturally I’ll keep in frequent contact and visit Eldest Young Master Tang often.”

“The Tang Family’s Second Young Master?”

Tang Li’s smile gradually froze.

Jun Changxiao said in surprise, “Don’t tell me Eldest Young Master Tang doesn’t know Tang Ren?”

“This young master naturally knows my cousin,” Tang Li said. “It’s just… your relationship?”

“Friends.”

Jun Changxiao said, “The very close kind.”

Tang Li’s expression turned ugly.

Back when he intercepted his cousin in the Tang Family, he had used a condescending tone to let him have the Eternal Sect.

He had thought that with Tang Ren’s abilities, at most they would exchange visits, and the two wouldn’t have too deep a relationship. Today, by personally making his move, he would surely be able to pull this sect over to his side.

However.

The result was that they had already become friends—the very close kind.

Tang Li understood that Jun Changxiao was telling him that he had already partnered with his cousin!

People who had been in business for years had sharp minds.

“Eldest Young Master Tang.”

Jun Changxiao said, “It’s getting late. This seat will take my disciple and leave first.”

With that, he stood up with his disciple to leave.

Walking to the door of the private room, he very graciously said, “Thank you for the hospitality.”

“…”

Tang Li gripped his wine cup tightly and said coldly, “Cousin, I still underestimated you!”

“Young Master Tang.”

Steward Xin walked in and smiled, “The total comes to three hundred fifty-four thousand taels. We’ll round it down to three hundred fifty thousand.”

“So expensive?”

Tang Li’s expression couldn’t hold anymore.

Steward Xin said, “Young Master Tang ate over three hundred dishes and ten bottles of Osmanthus Aged Wine. Oh, and before leaving, Sect Leader Jun took a few more jars, saying he wanted to savor them slowly at home.”

“Crack!”

The wine cup shattered instantly.

Tang Li gritted his teeth. “Jun Changxiao, you were deliberately playing me!”

He had figured it out.

But it was too late.

If the subordinate he had sent to invite people had been more humble in his approach, Jun Changxiao wouldn’t have been so deliberate about it.

In summary.

Eldest Young Master Tang treated a meal for nothing, while Sect Leader Jun mooched a meal for nothing.

…

City Lord’s Residence.

As soon as Jun Changxiao returned, Tang Ren rushed in anxiously and said, “Did Tang Li invite Sect Leader Jun?”

“Mm.” Jun Changxiao nodded.

Tang Ren became nervous.

After all, his eldest cousin was superior to him in winning people over.

“Your eldest cousin was very enthusiastic and treated me to a big feast. It probably cost him quite a bit,” Jun Changxiao said.

Tang Ren said bitterly, “Cousin is most willing to spend when it comes to winning people over.”

“He wanted to befriend me, but I’ve already told him that you and I have a very close friendship. I imagine he won’t come bothering me again,” Jun Changxiao said.

Tang Ren’s heart filled with joy.

“Young Brother Tang.”

Jun Changxiao said seriously, “You must continue to work hard and not disappoint Jun.”

He had essentially shown his cards to Tang Li and bet everything on Tang Ren. If the other party couldn’t become the next family head, he would definitely be quite depressed.

“Thank you for your trust, Sect Leader Jun.”

Tang Ren said, “Tang will definitely not disappoint you!”

Having the exclusive selling rights for divine-grade elixirs was his foundation for establishing himself in the Tang Family. As long as he managed this well and drove other industries forward, he would definitely gain the old master’s approval.

…

The advertisement continued its relentless bombardment. The happiest person was none other than City Lord Han.

Many business tycoons in the city came knocking one after another, hoping to place advertisements for their own industries on the projection array.

Tang’s Elixir Shop’s booming business was something many could observe directly, so shrewd merchants wouldn’t miss such an excellent opportunity.

“It’s possible, yes.”

City Lord Han said, “But the price might be a bit expensive.”

“City Lord Han, please name your price.”

“One hundred thousand spirit stones!”

“No problem!”

“…”

The corner of City Lord Han’s mouth twitched as he sent a telepathic message to Jun Changxiao behind him: “Sect Leader Jun, did I ask for too little?”

“Definitely!”

Jun Changxiao said with a collapsing expression, “After Tang’s Elixir Shop’s promotion, their sales skyrocketed. The profits they’re making absolutely can’t be compared to a hundred thousand. You should at least ask for two hundred thousand!”

“Ah.”

City Lord Han said, “I just don’t have experience with this.”

“Tell them,” Jun Changxiao said, “one hundred thousand spirit stones can only get morning and midday time slots. If they want prime-time slots, it starts at two… three hundred thousand!”

“This…”

City Lord Han felt a bit embarrassed, but he could only take a gamble. So he explained about dividing the advertising into time slots, and the business tycoon actually agreed readily!

So using the projection array to make money was this simple—why hadn’t he thought of it before!

“City Lord Han.”

Someone said, “Can our industry advertise like Tang’s Elixir Shop does?”

“Of course.”

City Lord Han added, “However, that will require an additional fee.”

Jun Changxiao’s face showed a satisfied smile.

He hadn’t deliberately reminded him, yet City Lord Han had figured it out on his own and learned to seize business opportunities!

Ah.

A Martial Saint.

Just like that, he was influenced by Jun Changxiao to become worldly and commercialized.

Absolutely corrupting others tirelessly!

Of course, with City Lord Han’s imagination, he could only use the projection array to earn rental fees. The creative planning for advertisements still had to come from Jun Changxiao, and naturally the spirit stones the tycoons paid would fall into his pocket.

…

“This year’s holiday, accept no gifts—if you must give gifts, only accept Xiuyun Brocade!”

“Golden Wine is good, but don’t be greedy!”

“He’s Diamond Ring Shop’s Eight Hearts Eight Arrows diamond ring—not thirty or fifty thousand, not ten or twenty thousand, only ninety-nine ninety-eight! Only ninety-nine ninety-eight! Take home the Eight Hearts Eight Arrows diamond ring!”

“Southwest Yang Province’s largest leather factory, Southwest Yang Province’s largest leather factory has gone bankrupt… Give me back my hard-earned money, give me back my hard-earned money!”

All kinds of advertisements played in loops on the projection array. The entire world was stirred up by Jun Changxiao into complete chaos.

Some people even stopped cultivating, sitting on small stools looking up at the light screen, wondering in their hearts: What kind of tricks will the next advertisement have?

City Lord’s Residence.

Various major families came to visit in an endless stream.

As long as they had large industries covering the entire continent, commercial families were willing to spend money on promotion to increase their visibility.

At first, it was just various industries.

As competitors joined in, advertising fees began to gradually increase.

In the end, City Lord Han stopped setting prices.

He would call several tycoons with the same industries over and have them sit nearby while they bid. Whoever offered the most would get the advertising slot.

With only a few days left until the God of Cooking Competition began, the major commercial families competed fiercely for advertising rights.

Large amounts of spirit stones flowed into the City Lord’s residence, flowing into the pockets of City Lord Han and Jun Changxiao.

“Cheers.”

“Cheers!”

The two would celebrate every evening, looking exactly like partners in crime!

As the God of Cooking Competition was about to begin, participants from all over gradually entered the Great Sovereign Imperial City, and the atmosphere gradually became more serious.

“Sect Leader Jun.”

On the city wall, Tang Ren pointed to a young man who had just entered, wearing a kitchen knife and various cooking utensils at his waist, and said, “His name is Lin Yao, the personal disciple of the Forty-Third God of Cooking Competition champion. His knife skills are supernaturally skilled.”

“What about Song Bao?”

Jun Changxiao asked, “Has he arrived yet?”

Tang Ren shook his head. “As the number one favorite to win this God of Cooking Competition, he probably won’t show himself in public easily.”

“Tsk tsk.”

Jun Changxiao said, “He’s being quite mysterious, isn’t he?”